Review Summary:
A couple clever scenes tucked into an otherwise straight-forward story. You're not sure who you are, on a journey to figure out why all the people are dead. This time, there are black spots to blame.
I played...
Minecraft Ver: 1.1
Mode: Single player
Difficulty: Easy
Texture Pack: Levi's Nightmare
Mods Used: none
My Total Playtime: 2 hours
My Final Score: 32 gold ingots
(+) I like idea of the blackened spots - some sort of evil that's spreading(?)
I assume the soulsand are the blackened spots.
MObs. Heading into this farmhouse for shelter.
(+) I appreciate the "chest art" but did you intend for us to take/use wood to craft weapons/tools? Also, since I can place blocks, I could take this farmland to cheat?
(I had 2 ideas re: spreading spots. 1 - make snow golems invisible, retexture snow to look like black spots. 2 - retexture mushrooms.)
I used the farmland in the house with the seeds + bonemeal to get more bread.
Sleep, of course.
(-)the texture floor in Johan's shop is too solid. Needs a little noise.
(-)note 2 - why did I go look in his drawer? Is it because he's not here?
@note 2 - Am I the old guy? Re-read the intro and note 1 - nevermind. I may not be.
Minor comment: I received a stone sword in Johan's and immediately upgraded to an iron sword in the Town Hall
(+) I like the use of crafting tables as floor detail in one of the houses
(-) first 5 chests seem a little too easy to find. Maybe I missed some - will see by the end.
(+) I like that the individual stories are being tied together through character references...
but a little nervous that I'm already up to 7/20 and nothing has really happened yet.
This new Minecraft function of not being allowed to sleep with monsters 'nearby' is very annoying.
(+) Dr. Ferguson's mini puzzle (but while in the clinic you don't "see" the blocked chest and I almost didn't go looking for it.
From up here on Dr. Ferguson's house, I notice I can get to caves and such. Will remember this for later exploring.
Checking out the graves.
Explored rest of town. Before I follow the map to Parside, going to jump around on roofs (rooves?).
(-) couldn't get into the cave with a ladder, because of the sandstone "trap" in the opening. Worked a convoluted way around the top of the hill and jumped into the cave from above.
13 gold bars as I head to Parside. I'm not going to explore this wilderness around the 'path' as I'm afraid I'll get distracted by randomly generated terrain and waste time.
Fisherman Gary's house.
Note 11 - is it suggesting that this scientist had something to do with it?
(+) interior of the school is nice
I'm starting to wonder how many of these notes actually prorgress the character to the root cause, vs give more flavor.
(+) I like the little light on the gems store
Should I take the redstone torches in the Church? I think they're just decoration, but they could be abused since they were given...
Am I Travis?
I chuckled when I saw the sign "Secret Conference Room"
(+) This room is REALLY well made. I love the details. You can see exactly what happened without needing the external note! And I think it tells me where to go next.
(-) Hmm... I can't get out of the secret passage. I think it's because of the 1.1 hitbox changes on ladders, which is getting replaced in 1.2.
(+) Like the rugs in the Mining Apartments
Note 15. Is Enrique's digging the cause? I think this map is to the evacuation site, not the source?
Following the map south(?). Hesitant to explore outside the direct path. I see some natural caves.
The priest's water bucket quenched the lava...
The sign says to press the button and run through [the doors] but I hear mobs. Slightly nervous...
Hmm... hard to get through with this laptop and lag from redstone. I hope Mojang fixes this bug...
Uh oh - black spots in here.
"No Entry" should say "No Exit"?
Ok - I don't think I'm Old Travis, since his locker is down here and full.
Hmm... are these the bones of the people?
Ah, ok - am I Harold maybe? Escaped from the shelter?
I turned on the alarm of course (although the noise and lag is annoying).
(+) The lab is also well created. You don't even need note 18. The map and the "1,900 meters" are a good indicator.
Oh, and by the way - I get the anagrams :wink.gif:
I found it a little odd, though, that the mayor and scientist rooms are THROUGH the villager rooms.
23 gold bars and I think I'm ready to leave the underground shelter, though I don't see an immediately obvious way to do so.
Oh, duh. Harold? Ah - you dug a way out. Naughty.
When I come out, I don't see my marker on the in-game map. I think straight leads back to town, so going to climb the hill. Yep, there we go. Slightly out of the map.
Strangely found 5 dogs with their heads in a wall - there must be some animal inside the hill attracting them. Might as well tame them with all these bones.
Snowing
I found some glowstone blocks (3) and hear a portal. Not sure how to get inside this hill... scouting around.
Ah - ok, doors.
Hm... what is this place...? I thought I was going to find a mine with something unburied from the earth...
Aw. Pigs in lava.
(+) Ooh, I like the bones on the floor of the "humans" experiment.
@Note 19 - I like the August 2 entry :smile.gif:
(+) Love the failed portals room
(-) Oof. I really don't like the ending. Too abrupt and it took me a few minutes to undertand the father/son thing. But... so it was all just showing the "evil scientist" what he was in hell for? Did we get his backstory (other than this room under the hill)? Why did he do it? Did I miss something? I don't feel like the end reinforced the beginning or brought any closure... going to reread the notes again..
Ok - reread the intro. I was Levi from the beginning, yet I totally didn't realize my name was there :sad.gif:
I think note 11 is from my father Ova? 18 certainly is. It barely mentions the son, but should be a stronger connection. If I'm wearing a jacket with Levi's nametag, shouldn't the character at least make some kind of connection?
32 gold ingots, so I did miss some in my exploring and/or they weren't all too obvious :smile.gif:
General comment regarding external note files. I too created these for my first 6 or so maps, and they can get awkward for Let's Play videos. Think about converting them to in-game map items or text-on-paper once Mojang releases that functionality.
As an experiment for Kmilley, I tried tracking things I liked (+) and things I think could be improved (-). The net is a "6". I'll need to do this with other maps to see how I like that kind of system. Oddly enough it happens to be 13 divided by 2 (or 6.5/10). Looking at the definition of Kmilley's rating system, I would give this a 6.5
I have a 'design' for a fear-based (not sure I want to say Horror) map. It's a VERY tough subject to pull off in Minecraft, unless you're just going for mobs dropping out of the darkness, which I feel is a physical/reflex fear. If you really want a HORROR map, you have to get the player invested in the character and fear for their safety or sanity. Starting out with "no knowledge" of who you are kills that and the rest of the storyline didn't really reinforce it. The closest part to horror was reading about Olivia's death (I may be misremembering the girl's name). I was half trying to figure out who I was and half waiting to find out that I was actually a walking zombie (which would maybe have been a nice twist).
Lastly, I want to point out that my very favorite part in this map is the "Secret Meeting Chamber". It told the story in a fabulous way without needing notes file. I was going to give you a "3" in story, until I got to the end. I ended up going with the 3 in creativity because you did go above the baseline in presenting the story.
Creativity: Unique theme. Utilizes Minecraft functions. Use of rules. Clever creations.
1 = below average
2 = average
3 = above average
4 = astounding!
Detail: Visual decor/detail. Consistency. Realism and/or appropriate to theme.
1 = below average
2 = average
3 = above average
4 = astounding!
Story: Overall effort and duration. Engaging. Consistent. Character motivation. Dialogue/Narration.
1 = below average
2 = average
3 = above average
4 = astounding!
Difficulty (on Easy): Puzzles. Mob/risk density and variety. Lighting. Hidden items/challenges.
1 = Impossibly hard, may not be able to see the whole adventure.
2 = Too easy
3 = Challenging, puzzles -OR- mobs are well planned.
4 = Challenging, puzzles -AND- mobs are well planned.
Progression: Pacing of scenes. Pacing of score, gear, loot. Experience builds or arcs. Clear delineation between "in character" and "out of character" notes/signs.
1 = below average; uneven or no progression
2 = average
3 = above average
4 = astounding!
I really loved this map! I'm not one for horror genres, but this one had me very interested~! I did get lost a little at the mines, and finding the place over the lake, but I did in the end, which made it worthwhile for me! I didn't even understand the twist until I was reading the 'congrats' messages at the end!
( I sadly died once and lost most all of my ingots, so no score from me. ; u ; )
Very happy yo hear that. Good job with the ingots!
Me and My friend were on Skype while we were both Playing this map.
It was amazing. The Twists the turns the pure greatness, It left me and my friend wanting more.
I still want more, a follow up or maybe a prequel is needed.
Just so you know, i ended up with 39 .
Wow, glad you guys liked it so much! I appreciate the feedback!
We are getting there :biggrin.gif:
A couple clever scenes tucked into an otherwise straight-forward story. You're not sure who you are, on a journey to figure out why all the people are dead. This time, there are black spots to blame.
I played...
Minecraft Ver: 1.1
Mode: Single player
Difficulty: Easy
Texture Pack: Levi's Nightmare
Mods Used: none
My Total Playtime: 2 hours
My Final Score: 32 gold ingots
=======================
Map Total Rating (out of 20): 13
Individual Ratings
-----------------------
Creativity: 3
Detail: 3
Story: 2
Difficulty: 3
Progression: 2
=======================
Playthrough Notes
-----------------------
(+) I like idea of the blackened spots - some sort of evil that's spreading(?)
I assume the soulsand are the blackened spots.
MObs. Heading into this farmhouse for shelter.
(+) I appreciate the "chest art" but did you intend for us to take/use wood to craft weapons/tools? Also, since I can place blocks, I could take this farmland to cheat?
(I had 2 ideas re: spreading spots. 1 - make snow golems invisible, retexture snow to look like black spots. 2 - retexture mushrooms.)
I used the farmland in the house with the seeds + bonemeal to get more bread.
Sleep, of course.
(-)the texture floor in Johan's shop is too solid. Needs a little noise.
(-)note 2 - why did I go look in his drawer? Is it because he's not here?
@note 2 - Am I the old guy? Re-read the intro and note 1 - nevermind. I may not be.
Minor comment: I received a stone sword in Johan's and immediately upgraded to an iron sword in the Town Hall
(+) I like the use of crafting tables as floor detail in one of the houses
(-) first 5 chests seem a little too easy to find. Maybe I missed some - will see by the end.
(+) I like that the individual stories are being tied together through character references...
but a little nervous that I'm already up to 7/20 and nothing has really happened yet.
This new Minecraft function of not being allowed to sleep with monsters 'nearby' is very annoying.
(+) Dr. Ferguson's mini puzzle (but while in the clinic you don't "see" the blocked chest and I almost didn't go looking for it.
From up here on Dr. Ferguson's house, I notice I can get to caves and such. Will remember this for later exploring.
Checking out the graves.
Explored rest of town. Before I follow the map to Parside, going to jump around on roofs (rooves?).
(-) couldn't get into the cave with a ladder, because of the sandstone "trap" in the opening. Worked a convoluted way around the top of the hill and jumped into the cave from above.
13 gold bars as I head to Parside. I'm not going to explore this wilderness around the 'path' as I'm afraid I'll get distracted by randomly generated terrain and waste time.
Fisherman Gary's house.
Note 11 - is it suggesting that this scientist had something to do with it?
(+) interior of the school is nice
I'm starting to wonder how many of these notes actually prorgress the character to the root cause, vs give more flavor.
(+) I like the little light on the gems store
Should I take the redstone torches in the Church? I think they're just decoration, but they could be abused since they were given...
Am I Travis?
I chuckled when I saw the sign "Secret Conference Room"
(+) This room is REALLY well made. I love the details. You can see exactly what happened without needing the external note! And I think it tells me where to go next.
(-) Hmm... I can't get out of the secret passage. I think it's because of the 1.1 hitbox changes on ladders, which is getting replaced in 1.2.
(+) Like the rugs in the Mining Apartments
Note 15. Is Enrique's digging the cause? I think this map is to the evacuation site, not the source?
Following the map south(?). Hesitant to explore outside the direct path. I see some natural caves.
The priest's water bucket quenched the lava...
The sign says to press the button and run through [the doors] but I hear mobs. Slightly nervous...
Hmm... hard to get through with this laptop and lag from redstone. I hope Mojang fixes this bug...
Uh oh - black spots in here.
"No Entry" should say "No Exit"?
Ok - I don't think I'm Old Travis, since his locker is down here and full.
Hmm... are these the bones of the people?
Ah, ok - am I Harold maybe? Escaped from the shelter?
I turned on the alarm of course (although the noise and lag is annoying).
(+) The lab is also well created. You don't even need note 18. The map and the "1,900 meters" are a good indicator.
Oh, and by the way - I get the anagrams :wink.gif:
I found it a little odd, though, that the mayor and scientist rooms are THROUGH the villager rooms.
23 gold bars and I think I'm ready to leave the underground shelter, though I don't see an immediately obvious way to do so.
Oh, duh. Harold? Ah - you dug a way out. Naughty.
When I come out, I don't see my marker on the in-game map. I think straight leads back to town, so going to climb the hill. Yep, there we go. Slightly out of the map.
Strangely found 5 dogs with their heads in a wall - there must be some animal inside the hill attracting them. Might as well tame them with all these bones.
Snowing
I found some glowstone blocks (3) and hear a portal. Not sure how to get inside this hill... scouting around.
Ah - ok, doors.
Hm... what is this place...? I thought I was going to find a mine with something unburied from the earth...
Aw. Pigs in lava.
(+) Ooh, I like the bones on the floor of the "humans" experiment.
@Note 19 - I like the August 2 entry :smile.gif:
(+) Love the failed portals room
(-) Oof. I really don't like the ending. Too abrupt and it took me a few minutes to undertand the father/son thing. But... so it was all just showing the "evil scientist" what he was in hell for? Did we get his backstory (other than this room under the hill)? Why did he do it? Did I miss something? I don't feel like the end reinforced the beginning or brought any closure... going to reread the notes again..
Ok - reread the intro. I was Levi from the beginning, yet I totally didn't realize my name was there :sad.gif:
I think note 11 is from my father Ova? 18 certainly is. It barely mentions the son, but should be a stronger connection. If I'm wearing a jacket with Levi's nametag, shouldn't the character at least make some kind of connection?
32 gold ingots, so I did miss some in my exploring and/or they weren't all too obvious :smile.gif:
General comment regarding external note files. I too created these for my first 6 or so maps, and they can get awkward for Let's Play videos. Think about converting them to in-game map items or text-on-paper once Mojang releases that functionality.
As an experiment for Kmilley, I tried tracking things I liked (+) and things I think could be improved (-). The net is a "6". I'll need to do this with other maps to see how I like that kind of system. Oddly enough it happens to be 13 divided by 2 (or 6.5/10). Looking at the definition of Kmilley's rating system, I would give this a 6.5
I have a 'design' for a fear-based (not sure I want to say Horror) map. It's a VERY tough subject to pull off in Minecraft, unless you're just going for mobs dropping out of the darkness, which I feel is a physical/reflex fear. If you really want a HORROR map, you have to get the player invested in the character and fear for their safety or sanity. Starting out with "no knowledge" of who you are kills that and the rest of the storyline didn't really reinforce it. The closest part to horror was reading about Olivia's death (I may be misremembering the girl's name). I was half trying to figure out who I was and half waiting to find out that I was actually a walking zombie (which would maybe have been a nice twist).
Lastly, I want to point out that my very favorite part in this map is the "Secret Meeting Chamber". It told the story in a fabulous way without needing notes file. I was going to give you a "3" in story, until I got to the end. I ended up going with the 3 in creativity because you did go above the baseline in presenting the story.
=======================
Rating Definitions
-----------------------
ALL RATINGS ARE SUBJECTIVE!
Creativity: Unique theme. Utilizes Minecraft functions. Use of rules. Clever creations.
1 = below average
2 = average
3 = above average
4 = astounding!
Detail: Visual decor/detail. Consistency. Realism and/or appropriate to theme.
1 = below average
2 = average
3 = above average
4 = astounding!
Story: Overall effort and duration. Engaging. Consistent. Character motivation. Dialogue/Narration.
1 = below average
2 = average
3 = above average
4 = astounding!
Difficulty (on Easy): Puzzles. Mob/risk density and variety. Lighting. Hidden items/challenges.
1 = Impossibly hard, may not be able to see the whole adventure.
2 = Too easy
3 = Challenging, puzzles -OR- mobs are well planned.
4 = Challenging, puzzles -AND- mobs are well planned.
Progression: Pacing of scenes. Pacing of score, gear, loot. Experience builds or arcs. Clear delineation between "in character" and "out of character" notes/signs.
1 = below average; uneven or no progression
2 = average
3 = above average
4 = astounding!
Follow this link ( http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/260249- ) to see how your map compares to over 200 other maps that I've rated!
Follow this link ( http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/471572- ) for a checklist on testing for common issues in custom adventure maps!
I got 31 ingots. :smile.gif:
( I sadly died once and lost most all of my ingots, so no score from me. ; u ; )
ps i got 17